While many markets struggle with the sluggish economy, others thrive.

The Food Marketing Institute’s “Future Connect” conference, May 4-6, in Dallas will have several topics of interest to refrigerated and frozen food product developers.

Refrigerated and frozen food processors developing green and/or sustainable products now can tap into analytic research from the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), Harleysville, Pa.

Stick together. This is a great encouragement for teamwork but not a desirable quality in food products. Most prepared entrée processors use oil to prevent product from sticking during processing or consumer preparation.

"Fresh on the Go" is the name of a new refrigerated foods program now offered by c-store and chain restaurant distributor McLane Co., Temple, Texas.

The National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) says it is preparing retailers for "National Frozen Food Month" this March.

The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, Harrisburg, Pa., said it has established the "NFRA Refrigerated Food Hall of Fame."

Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., said Gary Ray, president of the company's protein units, and Russell Potter, vice president of operations-grocery products division, will retire.

When people ask me about what it’s like to write for a food industry trade journal, I know exactly what I’m going to say - because it’s what R&FF Editor Bob Garrison told me when he offered me the job. What makes this industry really interesting is the people.

It could be argued that there really isn't much "reality" in reality TV. It's not often that we find ourselves singing in front of millions of viewers, as contestants do every week on Fox's "American Idol," or dating 25 people at once, as "The Bachelor" does on ABC's reality TV show.